Chaeles eadcliffe



(No Model.)

0. BAD OLIPFE.

Covered Button.

No. 242,476. Patented June K188i.

V. PEIERS. PhnkrLiXhuguphar, Washington. D. C.

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES RADCLIFFE, OF NEWARK, NEIV JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE NEW JERSEYMANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

COVERED BUTTON.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 242,476, dated June 7,1881.

Application filed November 24, 1880. (No model.)

I all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES RADCLIFFE, of Newark, New Jersey, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Covered Buttons,

of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of buttons which is composed of metalstamped into the required shape and covered with some textile fabric,and the objects of my invention are to cheapcn the cost of productionand to add durability.

Buttons of this class have heretofore commonly been made by stamping thecut metal into the shape required for the face of the button thencovering the face with the cloth, linen, or other material, and securingthe edges ofthe cloth by fasteningthem with the clinched edges of asecond piece of metal stamped into the shape required for the back ofthe button and made a little larger than the face, so as to receive theface and allow the edges of the back to be clinched over the cloth. Thiskind of button is, however, subject to the disadvantages thatit usesmore cloth than is really necessary, and consumes more time and labor inthe manufacture, as the cloth and the metal face have to be cutseparately.

I obviate these disadvantages in the following way: I have discoveredthat metal buttons of small size may be covered with linen by cementing,and that such linen covering will, if properly applied, adhere to themetal surface so strongly as to resist the process of drawing the metalinto shape by dies. The

3 5 mode in which I have secured adhesion of the linen coating is asfollows: I cover the sheet of tin or other metal of which the button iscomposed with a thin coat of copal or equivalent varnish, which I causeto adhere closely to the surface of the metal by spreading it on verycarefully and in a very thin coat, so as to avoid, as far as possible,liability to crack. Upon this coat of varnish I lay a thin and uniformcoat of glue, which will adhere closely to 5 the varnish and upon thisglue, while wet, I lay the linen cloth or other fabric with which thebutton is covered. When the whole is dry the linen will be found firmlyunited to the metal, so thatthelattermay be bentor stamped into anyshape desired without disturbing the adhesion of the fabric. The metalsheet so covered I stamp into the shape required for the face of thebutton, and unite the face to the back in any of the well-known ways.The disk of metal should be drawn into such shape that the edges of thelinen may be as little liable as possible to be frayed by rubbing, butwill be protected by being brought into juxtaposition t0 the garment towhich the button is applied. Two forms of disk which will accomplishthis result are shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings, inwhich a represents the linen or other covering, 1) the metal, and c,Fig. 3, the layers of varnish and glue. By this means I find that thereis a 6 great saving effected in the quantity of cloth used, and thebutton is made very strong and durable, as well as more cheaply than inthe old way.

I do not limit myself to the particular materials specified forcementing the linen to the metal, though I prefer these, as otheringredients may be used which will adhere strongly both to the metal andcovering fabric, and if laid very thinly and evenly will resist theaction of drawing-dies.

Fig. 4 shows a section of my button as completed, and provided with awell-known means of fastening it to the fabric. For the fastening deviceshown may be substituted the device shown in my application for a patentfiled September 17, 1880.

NVha-t I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The method ofconstructing covered buttons by covering a sheet of metalwith a thin coat of copal or equivalent varnish, then covering thevarnish with a thin coat of glue or its equivalent, then laying upon theglue, while damp, the textile fabric, and when the whole 0 is drystamping or cutting the covered metal sheet into the shape required forthe face of the button, and uniting the face with the back or shank,substantially as described.

0. RADOLIFFE.

In presence of- THOMAS HUNT, GEORGE R. DAVIDSON.

